Friday, July 4, 2014

Signature Work

The sun is shining gorgeously today which is great because I'm on my way to Vernon to pick up a friend and then carry on to Kelowna to visit the ARTE funktional Gallery. It's about a two and a half hour drive. This is a relatively new gallery. The owner previously carried my textile wall art. She's a delightful lady. I'm looking forward to seeing her new adventure and to time with my friend.

All my wall art was signed with my first name. I know that's not common but it's the way I'm most comfortable signing my work because my first name is the one that is truly my own. At least, that's how I feel. I think if I'd gotten married at an older age I wouldn't have changed my name but now it's part of my identity and even so...

In 2012, at Marcy's last retreat, she encouraged each of us to sign our work. This jacket is the first piece I've made where I feel I'm ready to do that. I used a gold felt pen and a scrap of the fabric to make a label and then sewed it to the back facing.

The knot buttons are something new for me. I love the texture and interest they add to the front without a change of color. I wasn't sure how to sew them on but in the end...

... used spray basting to stick interfaced patches under each button and then DMC cotton to sew them on in what Diane calls "small bites". A curved upholstery needle made it a LOT easier. The jacket is closed with snaps.

I wanted to try a three part collar instead of the Peter-pan-ish one included in the design only I ended up with a three part Peter-pan-ish version so I used small tucks and pleats to create more dimension and visual texture.

The original pattern - out of print Vogue 2956 - had three wider pleats each side of center back. I changed that to five smaller ones and like the look much better. It's softer, less chunky.

And the front. The jacket will be best worn closed so I placed the first button further down for a more open neckline. I rarely like something right up to my neck. It feels too prissy, like I have to be really, really good. Plus - LOL - I'll want to wear a necklace of some kind.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - exploring new concepts

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.

Thanks. I didn't take pictures of the collar under construction so it'll have to wait until next time but basically I split the shape into three, added an overlap to each section, changed the edges to be more organic, and then used pleats and tucks to give it the three dimensional shape. I pinned and experimented as I went and then tacked each tuck/pleat when I thought I'd achieved a good look. It's about play.

Myrna Giesbrecht

Welcome. I love to sew... and knit... and read... and talk... a lot... and I love learning especially about creativity and about life. Please feel free to comment. I love the conversation and if you need to, you can email me privately at myrna (at) myrnagiesbrecht (dot) com. If you're wondering what the header is all about, read this posting. Thanks for visiting. - Myrna

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